FEELING AS I DO ABOUT ROSS’S WORK, I WAS THRILLED WHEN HE ASKED ME TO JOIN HIM ON HIS CBC JAZZ BEAT RECORDING SESSION. ROSS CHOOSE MOST OF THE TUNES, WHICH DELIGHTED ME. THE SESSION WENT SO WELL ROSS SUGGESTED WE RECORD A FEW MOR FOR A CD RELEASE. ROSS HAD A COUPLE GORGEOUS MELODIES HE HAD WRITTEN SO I WROTE LYRICS FOR “ A STATE OF GRECE” AND I TALKED MY BROTHER JIMM INTO THE LYRIC FOR “ANSWER MY QUESTION”. THE TUNE “SEEING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME” IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SONG, AND I SINCERELY WANT TO THANK ROSS FOR SUPPORTING MY EVERY NOTE AS IF HE WERE HOLDING SOMETHING PRECIOUS. THIS WAS AN INSPIRING PROJECT FOR ME TO WORK ON, PLAYING WITH PEOPLE WHO’S ART I ADMIRE SO MUCH.
TO THE LISTENER….. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS ALBUM AS MUCH AS WE LOVED CREATING IT FOR YOU.
WITH EXTREME LOVE, JOANI
IT HAS BEEN A DREAM TO RECORD A CD WITH JOANI TAYLOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SCRATCHING OUT THE ARRANGEMENTS AND LEADING THE SESSIONS I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BOSS JOANI AROUND FOR A CHANGE! JOANI, KEN, BUFF AND JACK MORE THAN EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS. THEIR FRIENDSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM AND WONDERFUL MUSICIANSHIP INSPIRED TWO OF THE MOST LAID-BACK, RELAXED SESSIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED. I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY LISTENING TO THIS RECORD AS MUCH AS WE DID CREATING IT.
ROSS TAGGART
“ THE DICTIONARY DEFINITION OF EMPATHY IS AN UNDERSTANDING TO INTIMATE THAT THE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OF ONE ARE COMPREHENDED BY ANOTHER. THERE MAY AS WELL BE A PICTURE OF THIS GROUP. NO REHEARSALS,NO GOING OVER ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN ROSS AND JOANI; JUST A ONE-TAKE SESSION THAT REMAINED IN THE POCKET FROM START TO FINISH. AND SINCE IT WAS THAT EASY, I FOR ONE, EXPECT TO HEAR LOTS MORE FROM THIS GROUP.”
GUY MacPHERSON
A STATE OF GRACE
RECORDED LIVE
JOANI TAYLOR VOCALS
ROSS TAGGART PIANO
KEN LISTER BASS
BUFF ALLEN DRUMS
JACK STAFFORD ALTO AND TENOR SAX
ARRANGEMENTS ROSS TAGGART
PRODUCED BY ROSS TAGGART
JOANITAYLOR & CLAIR LAWENCE.
RECORDED LIVE AT THE CBC AND BOB MURPHY’S WALL STREET STUDIO
ENGINEERED AND MIXED BY GARY HEALD
AND MILES HILL.
COVER PHOTO “KAREN BUOY”, BURMA 1985
SET LIST:
ALL MY TOMORROWS
2. THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU
3. IMAGINE MY FRUSTRATION
4. A STATE OF GRACE
5. FOR ALL WE KNOW
6. SEEING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
7. YOU Y’ LOOK GOOD
8. ANSWER MY QUESTION
9. I AIN’T GOT NOTHIN’ BUT THE BLUES
10. YOU’RE BLASE’
11. DETOUR AHEAD
12. YOU MUST BELIEVE IN SPRING
